WE ALL NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO

PGA Champion Golfer Bubba Watson Opens Up About His Mental Health Journey

by Michael Overholt

GOOGLE “BUBBA WATSON” and the search gets 6.3 million hits. The top hits reveal he’s a professional golfer who has won the Masters Tournament twice, made millions as an athlete, and is six-foot-three. He’s been married since 2004 and has three children.

What takes more digging to discover is his grit apart from those stats and his impressive golf game. Bubba has battled tough mental health obstacles, and has come to a place where he’s courageously used his large platform to talk about it openly.

Anxiety had been something Bubba faced for some time, but it became overwhelming in 2019 when the onset of insomnia, weight loss, and disproportionate fear of disappointing people dramatically affected his golfing. He was diagnosed with ADHD, along with social and generalized anxiety disorders. Each of these on their own is difficult. Together, they created a tidal wave of cascading hardship.

How did Watson work through the reality of being in front of the critical eyes of millions, many of whom were clamoring for his attention and a selfie— situations that could make the least anxious of us highly nervous?

truly share with, and they don’t blink an eye. They’re there to give you a high five.”

Bubba’s progress toward dealing with anxiety seems to reflect how important it is to be vulnerable to trusted family and friends, and with God. He has benefitted from the combination of strong mental health practices coupled with spiritual pursuits whenever anxious thoughts flare up.

He shares one of his more unconventional secrets for starting his day off with a peaceful mindset: “Every morning I wake up and my mind is always racing. Right after I take a shower, I turn on a hair dryer, I put it down on the floor, and it blows on my feet. The hair dryer noise drowns out a lot of my thoughts in my head, and then I read. I get into the Word, or I get into a book I’m reading. Jesus Calling speaks to me on many levels—every devotion has something, and it’s easy and accessible for those moments.”

For Bubba, it was key to admit he had a condition that needed medical attention, while also acknowledging that his faith could be a part of getting him to a better place. As Watson testifies, “Without faith, I wouldn’t have gotten off the floor.”

Though mental health discussions are happening more in recent days, it is still hard for many to admit they might be struggling, especially elite athletes. Many keep their battle to themselves, hoping it will just get better—maybe even questioning if their faith is strong enough to overcome what’s happening or thinking perhaps it’s “just in their mind.”

As Watson took the first steps toward being honest with himself and a circle of close confidants, he realized how important a support system was in the process of working through what would come next. “You have to find people you truly trust,” he says. “There’s going to be one to five people you can

If Watson’s Instagram account is any indication of how he’s managing ADHD and anxiety disorders, he appears to be doing well. Watson recently made waves by joining TikTok stars Joey Reed and Tosha in a dance on the 16th hole of the Phoenix Open. Hardcore golf fans may have been unimpressed, but it shows Watson doing something fun, regardless of what anyone thinks. And for someone with diagnosed general and social anxieties, taking time to let go and dance—literally—are steps in the right direction.

You can hear more of Bubba’s story by putting your Camera mode and hovering over this code!

An exclusive excerpt from Sarah Young’s 365-day prayer devotional Jesus Listens

April 16

My loving Lord, Thank You for loving me regardless of how well I’m performing. Sometimes I feel uneasy—questioning whether I’m doing enough to be worthy of Your Love. But I realize that no matter how exemplary my behavior may be, the answer to that question will always be no . You’ve been showing me that my performance and Your Love are completely diff erent issues. You have loved me with an everlasting Love that fl ows outward from eternity without limits or conditions. You have clothed me in Your robe of righteousness , and this is an eternal transaction. Nothing and no one can reverse it! This means that my successes and failures have no bearing on Your Love for me.

I’ve discovered that even my ability to evaluate how well I’m doing is fl awed. My limited human perspective and the condition of my body, with its mercurial variations, distort my assessment of my behavior.

Lord, I bring my performance anxiety to You, and I ask You to replace it with Your unfailing Love . Help me to stay aware of Your loving Presence with me in everything I do. Please direct my steps as I go through this day.

In Your precious Name, Jesus, Amen